225 September 2, 2010

Taking Art to the Grave

Upon visiting the beautiful city of Venice, Italy, our class took some time to journey to the Old Jewish Cemetery, located on Lido Island.  What struck me the most about the cemetery out of everything was the vast and wide ranging types of tombstones present.  Though merely an estimate, the graves ranged everywhere in size from about two to probably fifteen feet tall.  Only one reached that high into the sky, but going beyond height, they more importantly had their own personalities.  Just as people had put art into their houses, cities, and daily lives, they filled the cemeteries with them as well.  The tombstones did not just show the facts of their life, but the personality the person had, social status, and during which time period this person lived- not only by the date inscripted but by the style of that tombstone. 

Looking around the graveyard, I could not help but notice the diversity present as a result of the history behind the tombstones.  One appears stumpy in the shape of a house with a pointed top, positioned next to another which is rectangular, standing tall and proud.  This tombstone looks down upon the one next to it which is sprawled flat on the floor.  After all, the cemetery was started as early as 1386 and was used all the way up until about the 1700’s (http://www.archipelago.org/vol2-3/lido.htm).  The website continues on to discuss how as a result of such a wide time frame, people are able to see how “the sober classicism of the Renaissance, the excesses of the Baroque -- reflect the level of intimacy with “gentile” society.”  Each tombstone is clearly identified based on its appearance, with the exception of the excavated, broken ones that cling to the walls of the cemetery, begging to not be forgotten.

The tombstones were also adorned with the Hebrew language and various symbols.  As a result, iconography becomes rather important.  The language used symbols upon these tombstones which can be very hard to read and interpret.  However, they are still very important in that they represent the ancestors and history of Jewish society.  As the Spitzer’s discussed, the language is almost like a puzzle that one must analyze, dissect, and put together.  I found this rather intriguing because these ancestors left the inscriptions behind for a purpose- for the dead to be remembered by and to inspire future generations.  To a blind person it may just be a slab with foreign figures on it, but to the one who truly sees and looks further, it is a magical story to be told. 

Saint Mark’s Basilica

Missing Saint Mark’s Basilica would be nearly impossible if it is close by.  The basilica pulls tourists in left and right through the intense beauty and work put in to create it.  76.5 meters long, 62.5 meters wide, and with a dome 43 by 28 meters, the structure stands glistening in the sun, leaving people to simply stand in awe of its magnificence (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St_Mark's_Basilica).  Made of everything from stone to wood, to gold, bronze, and marble, the basilica seems to be able to please a variety of tastes.

Part of the reason may be due to the long construction and alterations that took place to the basilica over the years.  According to Wikipedia, though the first was destroyed by fire, a new one was built in 978 AD and was not completed until 1617 AD.  Domes were built to fit in with other Gothic structures nearby, statues were added for Classical style, and much of the interior was to represent Byzantine and Gothic style, which is generally what the structure is considered to be.  Everyone wanted to put in a splash of their own taste throughout history which makes the basilica an incredible place to learn from.

Importantly noted is where so many of the pieces of art in the basilica came from.  As we have talked about in class, much of Rome’s money came from conquering other places.  In the same way, a large amount of the art that was brought into the basilica was booty captured from the places Rome took over. “As Venetian ships returned from the Crusades and other expeditions, they were filled with treasures, and many of the architectural bits from ancient sites and buildings found their way onto the basilica” (http://www.suite101.com/content/st-marks-in-venice-an-exterior-tour-a141998).  Even in class we spoke of how Roman religion was porous and mutable, and this appears to connect with their changing styles as well.  Though the basilica may not be a direct reflection of Roman style preferences, it does represent their actions and larger cultural influences.